Chain snubbing and pole-gripping device for pole-raising apparatus

ABSTRACT

A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for a pole-raising apparatus for raising wooden and other electric power line poles, telephone poles and the like, out of the ground, without substantial damage to the pole, embodying a toothed chainsnubbing and pole-gripping member which is adapted to be driven partially into the body of a wooden pole, somewhat above the ground level. In the use of the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device, a flexible means, preferably in the form of a flexible chain member, encircles the pole and extends over the chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device, and fluid power-operated means in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder device is provided for raising the flexible chain member, thereby causing the flexible chain member to grip the chain-snubbing and polegripping device and thus raise the pole a predetermined increment. The operation may by repeated by removing the chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device from the pole and relocating it on the pole at a lower level until the pole is completely raised out of the ground in successive increments.

1451 May 22, 1973 ilnited States Patent 1 Enright T C A R T s B A H H mm. m m? R m HE C w E D m P am CG m RA SKNG APPARATUS A charn-snubbmg and pole-gripping devlce for a poleraising apparatus for raising wooden and other electric 'power line poles, telephone poles and the like, out of lll. 6005 WWW the ground, without substantial damage to the pole,

embodying a toothed chain-snubbing and pole- [22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 gripping member which is adapted to be driven par- [21] Appl. No.: 224,201

tially into the body of a wooden pole, somewhat above the ground level. In the use of the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device, a flexible means, preferably in [52] U.S. ....254/30 .E2lb 19/00 .254/29 R, 30

151 m. the form cf e flexible cheih member, encircles the pole and extends over the chain-snubbing and polegripping device, and fluid power-operated means in [58] Field of the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder device is provided for raising the flexible chain member, thereby causing the flexible chain member to [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS grip the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device and thus raise the pole a predetermined increment. The

B u I 24 5 m 580,640 4/1897 Elliott........ 3,103,343 9/1963 3,155,372 3,163,398

operation may by repeated by removing the chainsnubbing and pole Benchley 11/1964 Brown ri in device from the ole and 12/1964 Eckels................................254/29R g pp g p relocating it on the pole at a lower level until the pole is completely raised out of the ground in successive increments.

Primary Examiner--Othell M. Simpson AttorneyCharles B. Cannon 11 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 0F 4 PATENTEU MAY 2 2 I975 PATENTEUWYZZIW 3.734.463

' sum 3 [1F 4 OBJECTS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE SHOWN IN FIGS. 1 TO 13 INCLUSIVE A typical and preferred embodiment of the new An object of the invention is to provide a new and imchain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for use with proved chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for a pole-raising apparatus for raising wooden and other electric power line poles, telephone poles, and the like, out of the ground.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for a pole-raising apparatus embodying a novel toothed chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be readily used with known and existing hydraulic or pneumatic pole-raising apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device which is particularly adapted for use in and facilitates the raising of wooden electric power lines, telephone poles, and the like, out of the ground without substantial damage to such wooden poles, including poles which have a base or lower end portion embedded in the ground which is relatively larger in diameter than the body of the pole which is visible above the ground.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pole-raising apparatus showing the new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device driven slightly into a wooden pole prior to the pole-raising operation;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the wooden pole raised a predetermined increment from its initial position in which it is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping member;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device as seen from the left-hand side in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device as seen from the side opposite that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view on line 6- 6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view on line 77 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a tranverse sectional view on line 8-8 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9--9 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a tranverse sectional view on line 10-10 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on line 12-12 in FIG. 1 showing the upper pole-gripping teeth of the new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device embedded in the body of the wooden pole;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on line 1313 in FIG. 1, showing the lower pole-gripping teeth of the new polegripping device embedded in the body of the wooden pole;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating another use of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the use of the invention shown in FIG. l4.

pole-lifting apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13, inclusive, wherein it is generally indicated at 15 and includes a generally rectangular-shaped body member 16, which is generally V-shaped in cross section form (FIGS. 6 to 10, 12 and 13 of the drawings) and may be made of any suitable material such, for example, as cast or forged steel or other suitable material. The body member 16 has a generally triangular-shaped chainsnubbing fin member 17 formed integrally therewith on the outer side thereof. This chain-snubbing fin member 17 is arranged centrally on the body member 16 and is tapered downwardly and inwardly from its widest area 18 at the top thereof to its narrowest area 19 at the bottom thereof, for a reason which will be pointed out hereinafter (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4).

A pair of generally parallel ribs 20 and 21 are formed integrally within the body member 16 on the inner side thereof and in spaced relationship with each other at the side marginal edges of the body member 16 (FIGS. 5 and 10).

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 10 and 11, the body member 16 of the new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device 15 has a pair of generally parallel side marginal ribs 20 and 21 formed integrally therewith on the rear or inner side thereof, these ribs 20 and 21 extending longitudinally of the body member 16 at the outer marginal edges thereof. As shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings, the rib 20 has a generally triangular-shaped pole-gripping tooth 22 formed integrally therewith at the top thereof and a similar generally triangular-shaped pole-gripping tooth 23 is formed integrally with the rib 20 at the bottom thereof. Similarly, the rib 21 has a generally triangular-shaped pole-gripping tooth 24 formed integrally therewith at the top thereof and a similar triangularshaped pole-gripping tooth 25 is formed integrally with the rib 21 at the bottom thereof. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of the drawings, the polegripping teeth 22-23-24-25 are angled inwardly somewhat toward the longitudinal center of the body member 16 and relative to the long axis of the ribs 21 and 21 (FIG. 5).

The new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device 15 is particularly adapted for use with a pole-raising apparatus which includes hydrualically or pneumatically operated pole-raising means, generally indicated at 26, in the drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2), and which is shown as including a fluid-pressure operated piston-cylinder device 27 of conventional design and which includes a relatively stationary piston 28, which is mounted on a supporting base or foot plate 29, and a relatively movable cylinder 30 having at the top thereof a cap plate or head 31 to which one end portion of a flexible polelifting member in the form of a chain 32 is attached; the chain 32 having a hook 33 at its other and free end (FIGS. 1 and 2). Similarly, a second flexible pole-lifting member in the form of a chain 34 has one end portion of the relatively movable cylinder 30 and the other and free end portion of the relatively movable cylinder 30. A suitable operating fluid, such as air or oil, is supplied to the piston-cylinder unit 28-30 by fluid-conducting conduit means 36 from a suitable power source (not shown) but which may be a conventional power source mounted on an automotive vehicle truck, or the like, as is well known in the art of electric power lines, telephone lines, and the like.

It will be noted that the body member 16 is generally V-shaped in cross-sectional form, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, inclusive, 12 and 13, with the apex 28 of the v extending outwardly toward the outer surface of the body member 16 and with the apex 38 being disposed in coplanar relationship with the chain-snubbing fin member 17.

OPERATION In the use of the new chain-snubbing and polegripping device 15 the body member 16 of the chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device 15 is manually laid against and attached to a wooden electric power line pole, telephone-pole, or other pole 37, at a point above the level of the grounf in which the pole 37 is embedded at a distance approximately equal to the vertical heighth of the pole-lifting unit 26 with the supporting base or foot plate 29 thereof resting on the ground surface, and with the long axis of the body member 16 and the fin member 17 and the ribs 20-21 extending generally parallel to the long axis of the pole 37. This may be accomplished by tamping lightly on the body member 15 so as to drive the generally trinagualr-shaped polegripping teeth 22-23-24-25 thereon into the body of the wooden pole 37, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings.

The upper flexible pole-lifting member or chain 32 is then wrapped around the pole 37, about the lower end portion of the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member 15-16-17, as shown in FIG. 2, with the book 33 of the chain 32 secured to the body of the chain 32, as shown in FIG. 2. The lower chain 34 is arranged about the pole 37 adjacent the gound level on which the supporting base or foot plate 29 of the piston-cylinder unit 28-30 is mounted (FIG. 2).

When the new chain snubbing and pole-gripping device 15 is thus arranged, fluid power is supplied. by way of the conduit means 26 to the piston-cylinder unit 28-30, whereupon the movable cylinder 30 will be raised relative to the piston 28 and its supporting base or foot plate 29, tightening the upper chain 32 about the pole 36 and over the lower end portion of the body meber l6 and the fin member 17 of the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device 15. Hence, as the movable piston 30 is raised the lower chain 34 prevents the polelifting unit from pulling or falling away from the pole 37 while the upper chain 32 grips the lower end portion ofthe body member 16 of the chain-snubbing and polegripping member 15 and the fin member 16 thereon and urges the pole-gripping teeth 22-23-24-25 thereon into firm engagement with the body of the pole 37 which is thus raised upwardly on increment approximately equal to the length of the stroke of the relatively movable cylinder 30. The chains 32 and 34 may then be loosened and unwrapped from the pole 37, the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device 15-16 relocated at a lower position on the pole 37, the chains 32 and 34 reapplied, and the pole-lifting operation repeated until the pole 37 has been completely raised out of the ground, whereupon the chain-snubbing and polegripping member 15-16-17 may be readily removed from the pole 37 by manually tapping it with a hammer or similar tool.

I will further be noted (FIG. 5) that since the generally triangular-shaped pole-gripping teeth 22-23-2- 4-25 are angled slightly inwardly from their inner ends to their outer ends, relative to the longitudinal or vertical axis of the body member 16, this arrangement helps to prevent the pole-gripping teeth 22-23-24-25 from digging too deeply into the body of the pole 37 while, at the same time, preventing the new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device 15 from climbing or moving upwardly on the pole 37 during the pole-lifting operation.

It will also be noted that in the use of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping device 15, the tapered and generally triangular-shaped chain-snubbing fin member 17 snubs the upper chain 32 and prevents it from climbing upwardly on the chain-snubbing and polegripping member 15-16-17, while, at the same time, the pressure exerted by the upper chain 32 thereon maintains the chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member 15-16-17 in firm engagement with the pole 37 without doing substantial damage to the pole 37 itself, as frequently occurs in the use of comparable prior pole-lifting apparatus which do not employ the new chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member 15.

MODIFIED USE OF THE INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIGS. 14 and 15 A modified use of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings and the parts of the invention therein illustrated are identical to the parts of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, inclusive. Hence, the parts of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional character a.

The modified use of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 is particularly adapted for use with poles which have a base or lower end portion which is embedded in the ground and which is so tapered that it is larger in diameter than the body of the pole, which is above the ground; a fact which can not always be determined until the operation of pulling the pole out of the ground gets underway. In such a situation it may be advisable to employ a second one of the new chainsnubbing and pole-gripping members 15a-16a-17a in association with the lower chain 34, in the manner illustrated in FIGS. and 15, with the lower chain 34a wrapped arounf the lower end portion of the second chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member 15a-16a-17a, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. This dual arrangement and use of the two chain-snubbing and pole-gripping members 15-16-17 and 15a-16a-17a prevents the lower chain 34a from digging into the body of the pole 37a as the force required to lift the relatively larger or tapered base of the pole 37a out of the ground increases and which might otherwise cause the lower chain 34a to dig into the body of the pole 370.

In addition, the use of the second chain-snubbing and pole-gripping member l5a-16a-l7a in conjunction with the lower chain 341: facilitates the release of the lower chain 34a after the completion of the pole-raising operation.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the a accompanying drawings, that the present invention embodies a new and improved chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for use with the pole-lifting apparatus and that it has the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishes its intended pbject including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for use with pole-lifting apparatus of the type which includes flexible chain means adapted to encircle a pole above the level of the ground in which it is embedded, and power-actuated means for raising the said flexible chain means so as to raise the pole upwardly from the ground in which it is embedded, said chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device comprising:

a. a body member adapted to be positioned on the pole at a point above the level of the ground in which the pole is embedded and to be encircled by the said flexible chain means, and having 1. an inner surface; and 2. an outer surface; and

b. pole-gripping teeth on the said inner surface of the said body member and adapted to engage in the body of the said pole.

2. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 1 in which the said body member has on its said outer surface a. an outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member adapted to be engaged by the said flexible chain means and to prevent the said flexible chain means from climbing upwardly on the said body member during the operation of raising a pole from the ground in which it is embedded by means of the said pole-lifting apparatus.

3. A chain-snubbing and pole gripping device as defined in claim 2 in which a. the said outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member is arranged centrally of the said body member on the said outer surface thereof.

4. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 3 in which a. the said outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member is 1. generally triangular in shape, as seen in side elevation, and tapers downwardly and inwardly from its upper end to its lower end.

5. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 3 in which the said body member is a. generally rectangular in shape.

6. A chain-snubbing and pole-grippind device as defined in claim 3 in which a. the said body member is generally V-shaped in transverse cross-sectional form.

7. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 4 in which a. the said body member is 1. generally V-shaped in transverse cross-sectional form; and in which 2. the apex of the said V-shaped cross-sectional 5 form extends outwardly toward the said outer surface of the said body member; and in which the said apex of the said V-shaped cross-sectional form 3. extends in coplanar relationship with the said generally triangular-shaped chain-snubbing member. 8. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 1 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth 1. are generally triangular in form, as seen in side elevation, and extend inwardly from the said inner surface of the said body member. 9. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as de fined in claim 1 in which the said body member is a. generally rectangular in shape and has 1. generally parallel side marginal edge portions;

and in which b. the said pole-gripping teeth are formed on the said inner surface of the said body member adjacent the said side marginal edge portions thereof and are angled inwardly away from the said inner surface of the said body member. 10. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 9 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth are 1. generally triangular in shape, as seen in side elevation and are 2. arranged in pairs with one pair of said polegripping teeth arranged adjacent each of the said side marginal edge portions of the said body member, and with 3. one of the said pole-gripping teeth in each of the said pairs thereof being arranged adjacent the top of one of the said marginal edge portions of the said body member, and with the other of the said pole-gripping teeth in each of aid pairs being arranged adjacent the bottom of the corresponding one of the said side marginal edge portions of the said body member. 11. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 10 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth are angled slightly inwardly from their inner ends to their outer ends relative to the longitudinal or vertical axis of the said body member. 

1. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device for use with polelifting apparatus of the type which includes flexible chain means adapted to encircle a pole above the level of the ground in which it is embedded, and power-actuated means for raising the said flexible chain means so as to raise the pole upwardly from the ground in which it is embedded, said chain-snubbing and polegripping device comprising: a. a body member adapted to be positioned on the pole at a point above the level of the ground in which the pole is embedded and to be encircled by the said flexible chain means, and having
 1. an inner surface; and
 2. an outer surface; and b. pole-gripping teeth on the said inner surface of the said body member and adapted to engage in the body of the said pole.
 2. an outer surface; and b. pole-gripping teeth on the said inner surface of the said body member and adapted to engage in the body of the said pole.
 2. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 1 in which the said body member has on its said outer surface a. an outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member adapted to be engaged by the said flexible chain means and to prevent the said flexible chain means from climbinG upwardly on the said body member during the operation of raising a pole from the ground in which it is embedded by means of the said pole-lifting apparatus.
 2. arranged in pairs with one pair of said pole-gripping teeth arranged adjacent each of the said side marginal edge portions of the said body member, and with
 2. the apex of the said V-shaped cross-sectional form extends outwardly toward the said outer surface of the said body member; and in which the said apex of the said V-shaped cross-sectional form
 3. one of the said pole-gripping teeth in each of the said pairs thereof being arranged adjacent the top of one of the said marginal edge portions of the said body member, and with the other of the said pole-gripping teeth in each of aid pairs being arranged adjacent the bottom of the corresponding one of the said side marginal edge portions of the said body member.
 3. extends in coplanar relationship with the said generally triangular-shaped chain-snubbing member.
 3. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 2 in which a. the said outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member is arranged centrally of the said body member on the said outer surface thereof.
 4. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 3 in which a. the said outwardly projecting chain-snubbing member is
 5. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 3 in which the said body member is a. generally rectangular in shape.
 6. A chain-snubbing and pole-grippind device as defined in claim 3 in which a. the said body member is generally V-shaped in transverse cross-sectional form.
 7. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 4 in which a. the said body member is
 8. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 1 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth
 9. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 1 in which the said body member is a. generally rectangular in shape and has
 10. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 9 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth are
 11. A chain-snubbing and pole-gripping device as defined in claim 10 in which a. the said pole-gripping teeth are angled slightly inwardly from their inner ends to their outer ends relative to the longitudinal or vertical axis of the said body member. 